Hand Care

[Rod]

Most of the posters here are not the tough-handed builders and workmen with layers of callus built up over years. So, when we indulge in manual activity such as is often discussed here, we need to consider our skin.

I try to remember to bung on a bit of Screwfix cheapest barrier cream before. After, wash with liquid soap and treat with hand cream (either L'Occitane containing shea butter or Nivea Age Defying Contains Q10 Plus). (I have found that some hand creams seem to dry out my skin and keep making me want to put on more and more. That is why I have been so specific about the ones I use - they seem to work.)

I also try to use gloves - when I think about it! But to be honest, I hate doing so. And sweaty glove-insides are pretty nasty for the skin as well.

And I still end up having days, even weeks, of intensely dry-feeling hands where I am desperate to plunge them into water or oil. The best relief I get is often just to make fists so that as much of the skin is touching other skin as possible! (Partner has to tell me to stop clenching them at times it gets so bad.)

Cement/concrete/plaster are the absolute worst. Soil, white spirit and other solvents are pretty awful. And cleaning with detergents or sugar soap. And of course we have the silicone sealants, polyurethanes and gripfill/pink stuff with their unremovable horrors.

It seems likely that dry hands and damaged skin will be common experiences here. Anyone care to share their experiences and approaches?

[meow2222]

Cement and lime - afterwards I rub hands with a little vinegar, it seems to really help.

NT

[Stephen Howard]

I use latex gloves regularly, for handling brand-new instruments. My approach is to 'lubricate' my hands first with avocado oil ( for no other reason than I use it in the workshop, so it's handy...excuse pun ) before donning the gloves. It doesn't prevent the sweating, but it does help to avoid excessively dry skin afterwards. I'm nearly out of the gloves now, so I'll try the nitrile ones next...assuming they fit skin-tight.

For general work I use cheapo cotton gloves. If I'm fooling around with solvents/cement etc. I put a plastic glove ( the type that comes free with hair dye kits etc. ) over the top for the duration.

Regards,

[Rod]

You got me. :-) I saw your mention of avocado oil and wondered what on earth you could be using it for. So I googled - and found loads and loads of hits - but none could possibly be your use. So I have to ask, what do you use it for?

While googling I noticed this: "We have received a report of a rare case of cross-sensitisation to avocado fruit from a latex allergy sufferer."

I don't think I am allergic - but I can't stand the feel of my hands in latex gloves - powdered or otherwise. Maybe the oil would help but doesn't oil weaken the latex itself?

I am much happier with nitrile. I might try some other oil in them when the circumstances allow.

[Rod]

We *always* have vinegar (apple cider) near the sink (acid reflux for the prevention of) - so will definitely try that.

(Just been told I must NOT use that on my hands - have to use crap malt stuff. :-) )

Thanks.

[Andrew Gabriel]

I use Savlon barrier cream, which I find works very well. It's not cheap. CPC sell it, but it's a bit cheaper off the shelf from a chemist, although not all stock it, and there will be at most 2 tubes on the shelf IME. I did buy Boots own brand once, but I'm not sure it worked as well.

Remember to apply before you do anything, including lifting up bags of plaster cement in preparation. Lightly wash and well dry hands before applying. Avoid washing hands during the job - just rinse in water and shake dry if you need to remove loose material and apply more barrier cream if necessary. Wash the barrier cream (and dirt) off at the end of the job. That way, you just have two lots of hand washing and skin degreasing (or maybe 3 if you need to clean up for lunch), and normal skin should cope with this.

I just use any moisturiser cream. There's still no chance of using a finger printer reader for a few days. I presume rather few other people in data centres or other access controlled environments spend their weekends plastering and bricklaying.

If you have cracked/sore skin because you forgot to use barrier cream, I find putting vaseline petroleum jelly on your hands overnight fixes it pretty instantly. (Make sure you keep any vaseline contianer for this purpose clean.) Massage it in particularly in the sore/cracked areas.

You should avoid repeated contact without gloves or barrier cream though. Some people can develop allergies or long term skin problems on exposure to some some constituents of building materials (some quite nasty things in cement), and it would age your skin quickly.

I have used gloves, but I slightly prefer without, and barrier cream works well for me.

Try vaseline petroleum jelly.

[Rod]

Thank you.

[Phil]

Vinegar prevents acid reflux???

[stuart noble]

Vaseline is chemically inert, so there shouldn't be any reaction with anything else. Vegetable oils contain fatty acids and are not quite so straightforward

[Stephen Howard]

Oiling the bore of wooden-bodied instruments. It's a good non-drying oil that's pleasant to work with and has good stability.

Well, I think 'a report' and 'a rare case' are the key points there. I would say if it makes you break out in hives, don't use it again.

I haven't found it does...I know some oils do...diesel will disintegrate a latex gloves in no time at all. It might be that I'm not using enough oil...I rub it well into the hands.

I'd imagine any vegetable oil would do...from groundnut to sweet almond. Certainly cheap enough to try, and it if works for you so much the better.

Regards,

[Rod]

Sounds utterly unbelievable. Counter-intuitive. I know.

It might only work in some cases. Partner was suffering a lot of reflux probably caused by hypothyroidism - which in turn causes low stomach acidity and for some reason that seems to cause or allow reflux to occur. Or is it the weakening of muscles that causes it? She would regularly be wakened (or kept awake) by reflux - if it happens now she just pops into the kitchen and takes some vinegar.

We read lots and found that many people take one or two teaspoonsful of apple cider vinegar in a little water when they feel the reflux coming on - or even before. Sip. Swallow. Until it is gone. And that seems to help. A lot.

I do not know if ACV is special or just the most pleasant to use.

There is some Russian research that claimed hiatus hernia to be a good predictor of hypothyroidism several years down the line.

I have read of some orthodox medics in full raised eyebrow mode expressing disbelief, even anger at vinegar being suggested. They, of course, dismiss it. (There might be some individual doctors who don't.)

Although I am not a sufferer, I suspect that it would be worth a try - maybe with some bicarb to hand as a reassurance. I have tried it and found it quite refreshing to drink on a hot day.

And that, folks, is why the vinegar bottle is always in the same place in our kitchen.

[Rod]

Amazing coincidences time.

Partner was eating an avocado for lunch as I read your earlier post. :-)

She was prescribed ranitidine but never took it - as our research suggested achlorhydria or hypochlorhydria was more likely than good ol' excess. But huge numbers of hypos do take various antacid, ppi and h2 medicines - which surely can't make sense in someone who is already deficient in acidity!

Sorry to hear your problem with it. But glad you posted - others can choose to try or not as they see fit.

[Stephen Howard]

Some people say that eating certain apples seems to help, so it probably springs from that.

I'm currently on pills ( Ranitidin ) for reflux...and coincidentally I came across a site recently extolling the virtues of ACV...so I bought some and tried it last week. It was hell. I gave it a couple of days but it simply got worse. I'm guessing I just have the plain old 'too much acid' kind of reflux.

Regards,

[John Rumm]

For rough work I actually much prefer wearing gloves since it not only protects my hands but also desensitises them, making lifting and carrying etc more comfortable. My glove of choice is the screwfix cowhide ultimate rigger:

are strong, comfortable and breathe nicely.

For other messy stuff then I usually just use the powdered latex ones bught from CPC in boxes of 100.

[Lino expert]

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Out of interest, do you know if those who suffer from hypothyroidism get cravings for things the body know would help (much like when women are pregnant)? I ask because my mother suffers from it and, as often happens, it was undiagnosed for some time. However, she has always been a vinegar fiend - will polish off a bowl of home made mint sauce (basically mint leaves in vinegar with a touch of sugar), slooshes it on chips and can't stand mayonnaise as it doesn't contain it but laps up the salad cream....not literally, we broke her of that habit, using a big stick.

[John Rumm]

It would be interesting to here is there is a difference in levels of irritation between the traditional cements and some of the modern "high additive" versions. e.g. Mastercrete original in paper sacks vs the plastic sack version.

[Rod]

quoted text -

I do know that people with adrenal problems (often associated with hypothyroidism) can have salt craving.

It seems possible that she finds the vinegar compensates for lowered stomach acidity (common in hypothyroidism)?

Consuming sufficient fat (of the right sorts) is important for hypos and many suffer from gall bladder problems - quite possibly because they don't eat enough. Perhaps she should have the salad cream. :-)

Here's hoping that all her offspring have been and will be regularly tested - assuming it is the autoimmune variety, that is often inherited down the female line but can affect males.

If you don't wish to, would you mind if I copied and posted your question to alt.support.thyroid? (Feel free to do so yourself - not trying to steal your question. :-) )

[nightjar]

I wear rigger gloves for anything that is likely to cause physical damage, like handling glass, but otherwise, don't bother with any form of skin protection. A bit of Swarfega cleans off most things that don't respond to soap and water and what neither shifts wears off with time.

Colin Bignell

[Lino expert]

8>< (for tidiness!)

Oddly enough she can't stand salt - although my father is (like me) rather partial to it!

That could be it, although she's not one to look in to the broader subject, she thinks it's just something to endure...I think that's perhaps a generational thing.

I must admit I haven't been tested. I take Selenium, but I should trot off to the doc's just in case. (BTW my mother only has daughters ;o))

Please do, I'd be interested to see any answers - is that a subscribers-only group?

e quoted text -

[Rod]

No - it's a public Usenet group just like uk.d-i-y - accessible through Google groups if you wish.

I have just posted your question there with subject "Vinegar Craving in Hypothyroidism?" - please join in if you wish.

My partner is one of four daughters whose mother is hypothyroid. All four have major problems. None knew because the mother did not take the effort to tell them about it. (Mind, her doctor didn't tell her to.)